Culture Shock in India There a several different and diverse cultures around the globe that have specific ways of living. With these cultures, an individual who travels to a foreign land that is quite different than what their own daily way of life consists of might find their selves in a predicament. This occurrence is known as culture shock. Culture shock can be experienced in any area in the world, but one specific place that can help show the difference between American culture and other worldly cultures is the country of India. Among Indian culture, there are specific differences such as eating with ones right hand, means of transportation, types of foods and the Holi holiday that show how effective culture change is amid a foreigner …show more content…
This practice is one of the many examples of culture shock that are shown in the movie Outsourced, which follows the journey of Todd “Mr. Toad” Anderson in India. One event that Mr. Toad experiences is the way in which you eat with your hands, “When he is offered a snack at the guest house where he stays, Todd makes the cultural faux pas of eating with his left hand, considered the unclean “toilet” hand in many parts of the world.” Since the left hand is used to wipe after using the bathroom, it was strange for not only Mr. Toad to use such method, but also for the home owners in which he was staying with. It is very easy to think that Americans who are experiencing a different culture to feel out of place and believe that certain customs in another country are weird. But to those individuals that are not from the United States, some things that Americans do are just as strange. This instance that Mr. Toad experienced shows exactly what culture shock can be …show more content…
For Americans, it is easy to get use to driving your own car and being in control of your own way of getting somewhere. In India, transportation is different and this difference can be easily seen in the movie, “On arrival, Todd faces a chaotic transportation system, having to jump onto a crowded moving train, and later chasing after his suitcase which is thrown into a small auto-rickshaw, or as Todd calls it, “one of those taxi go-cart thingies.” Mr. Toad faces several obstacles while in India, and right off the bat he found himself struggling to understand this cultural difference. In India, one of the most prominent ways of transportation is an auto-rickshaw, and it shows how different the ways of getting around can be different for certain individuals in another country, “Nipping between the monstrous Bluelines and chauffeur-driven SUV’s are the yellow and green auto-rickshaws. Their passengers are neither wealthy enough to have their own cars nor poor enough to ride the buses.” Transportation is a very important aspect to examine in order to understand culture shock and how it can shape the view in which one might have upon another country or
Some may say that people can adapt to a new place and completely let go of their culture; thus they are saying that cultural identity does not continually inform the way one views the world. This however, is not accurate. While people can adapt to a new place and adapt to parts of a new places culture, they cannot completely let go of their cultural identity. It will always impact the way one views the world. Take for example Bharati, the author of the personal essay “Two ways to belong in America”. While Bharti's sister Mira chose to hold on to every aspect of their indian heritage; Bharati wanted to feel like she belonged fully in America. When talking about her sister she says “She is happier to live in America as expatriate Indian than as an immigrant American I need to feel like a part of the community I have adopted”(85). Bharati needs to feel like she belongs, and though she may have broadened her culture; her perception of the world and others is still influenced by her indian cultural
There are many different types of cultures and ways people would react in different situations. When a person thinks of the word culture they start to think of races, places, and states. Culture is in fact a lot more than that, culture is a society’s set of unique patterns, behaviors and beliefs (M.A., Lucas, Social Psychology Sociological Perspectives 3rd edition). Culture can be identified in various ways for example, the way you feel about certain situations or how would one person react differently from the way they grew up environmentally or religiously. The way a person was raised environmentally, physically, and spiritually all have an effect on other cultures. The way a person would normally act would no longer act that way due to the actions of the past. Different cultures affect other cultures in almost any way possible.
A sudden change in one’s surroundings can result in a culture shock. Culture shock refers to the anxiety and surprise a person feels when he or she is discontented with an unfamiliar setting. The majority of practices or customs are different from what a person is used to. One may experience withdrawal, homesickness, or a desire for old friends. For example, when a person goes to live in a different place with unfamiliar surroundings, they may experience culture shock.
Gandhi believed “Non-violence is the greatest force man has been endowed with. Truth is the only goal he has. For God is none other but truth. But Truth cannot be, never will be, reached except through non-violence.”(‘Non-Violence- The Greatest Gift). One of Gandhi’s best-known non-violent protest was the Salt Satyagrah, that took place from 1930-1931, a 241 mile march to the coast to protest British rule and the salt taxes. Gandhi used techniques such as formal statements, prayer, boycotts, and honoring of the men and women killed or wounded by the British especially for those who were killed at Amritsar in 1919. Indian gained its independence from Britain on August 15, 1947 and Gandhi was assassinated in 1948 by a Hindu extremist who did not share the same beliefs as Gandhi ("Gandhi begins fast in protest of caste
Culture often means an appreciation of the finer things in life; however, culture brings members of a society together. We have a sense of belonging because we share similar beliefs, values, and attitudes about what’s right and wrong. As a result, culture changes as people adapt to their surroundings. According to Bishop Donald, “let it begin with me and my children and grandchildren” (211). Among other things, culture influences what you eat; how you were raised and will raise your own children? If, when, and whom you will marry; how you make and spend money. Truth is culture is adaptive and always changing over time because
In an effort to help free India from the British rule, Mahatma Gandhi once again contributed to a protest against salt taxes, known as the Salt March. This protest advocated Gandhi’s theory of satyagraha or nonviolent disobedience as the nation came together on March 12, 1930 to walk the 241 miles long journey to the shores of Dandi to attain salt. Although some Indians criticized Gandhi for not achieving direct independence from the Raj or British rule, Gandhi’s execution of the Salt March helped to create a stronger nation for the Indians to live in. Gandhi motivated the Indians to act robustly against the injustices of the salt taxes through nonviolent means. This caused Gandhi to create a temporary compromising pact between Gandhi and the British viceroy over the turmoil created by the salt taxes. In addition, Gandhi drew a plan known as the “Quit India” resolution, whose immediate effect brought India closer to obtaining independence than before.
To be more specific, the spectrum of emotions comprising culture shock can range from alienation and loneliness to confusion and stress. When analyzed more carefully though, culture shock can be viewed through a more fundamental standpoint. Essentially, it can be defined as an emotional stimulus one develops when experiencing a different behavioral response from an individual or group in a social situation that is familiar to both parties involved. How an anthropological researcher handles his or her emotional reactions to these behavioral responses of a native people will dictate the formation of the social relationship that is continuously being developed. From the subjective opinion of the researcher, culture shock can undoubtedly seem like an impediment to his or her progress in research at the time that an instance of it occurs; however in the long term, properly approaching any difficulties experienced from culture shock in an objective manner can reveal under...
Throughout the course of this paper, I have discussed Hofstede’s five cultural dimensions where I broke down these dimensions. Additionally, I have stated how India tends to appreciate the hierarchical relationship structure, is a collectivist country and leans towards being a more masculine society. Additionally, India tends to possess a medium to low preference towards uncertainty avoidance and leans towards being a future oriented society. Having lived in the United States for almost a decade I think I have become more “Americanized”. India is a great country and I’ll always visit it in the future, but from the way things are going I am going to permanently settle down in New York where I would like to start my career and family.
Before UberEats and Postmates were established in America, a simpler version known as the dabbawala system, was established in India long before modern technology. Throughout the rom-com film, The Lunchbox, the audience sees how the system works, its impact on the economy, and the traditional everyday lifestyles in Mumbai. Although it is important to value traditional culture, the film depicts ways not only characters are trying to break away from tradition, but the city of Mumbai itself through modernization. As stated in the prompt, many see this film as a parable for India and its traditional culture, but I see it as a parable showing India at a different angle. From viewing this film, I can conclude how the city of Mumbai and its people are trying to escape traditionalism, the economic impact
It’s funny, when I read “Real Indians Eat Jell-O” by Laurie Carlson it reminded me of all those times I sat in the library wondering and analyzing other people’s behaviors. I agree with the message Carlson is portraying in her essay that it is a good thing to belong to a different culture however you should always have room to grow in you. What I think she means is that each culture can be as different from one another as it can be interesting. There are a lot of good things to be picked up from it and not so many good things that should not. We, as individuals will always have our culture to reflect back on, however we are who we are and never be ashamed of that.
At some point in our lives we experience a culture as an outsider by moving from one culture to another.In the world today there are so many different cultures and not one of them is found to be the same.Instead they all have something that makes them unique, whether its language or even the clothes they wear and their behavior as well.The differences they have is what separates them from one another and who ever joins that particular culture must get accustomed to their way of life.In the society today we have many people immigrating to the United States to start a new and better life but what they soon begin to realize is that it’s a whole new world out there and in order to survive they have to get accustomed to the new way of life which is much different from their lives before.
The movie reflects lots of culture shocks between West and East countries. These culture shocks all because people have diverse norms, attitudes and behaviors. Indian do not eat beef as cow is sacred in India. In Indian, the slaughter of cows is illegal. For example, Tod can not be brought Cheese burger with money. Cow is threated sacred and thus beef is not eaten. Meanwhile, we can see that America and India have different attitude in marriage. In America, people has freedom to choose their way to live and love is basis of marriage. In India, get marriage without love is usual. For
Cultural sensitivity occurs when people recognize and are aware that each country or various ethnic groups of people have their own set of experiences, beliefs, values, and language that affect their perceptions toward life. Addressing Cultural sensitivity permits people to comprehend that there are differences between cultures. Furthermore, having awareness in the differences between cultures permits a culturally competent person to communicate effectively with others that are outside of one’s realm. Some of the differences of Cultural sensitivity can be discovered while traveling outside of the country, such as through Cross-cultural sensitivity experiences. Likewise, a culture has its own norms and beliefs to how one should dress; how one should greet others, such as by referring to a significant individual by his or her first name or surname (comprehending which name should be stated first in foreign names); and/or what foods are permitted to eat or forbidden to eat or understanding what may offend a person (e.g. not accepting a home cooked meal). There are norms, taboos, cultural cues, and cultural etiquette standards that are significant to learning about one’s culture before exploring another country or while working with people who are from your country but who are part of another racial group. It takes time and patience to build a high level of Cultural sensitivity. Educating oneself with a culture’s psychology and its norms is significant toward achieving an increasing awareness toward Cultural sensitivity.
The British invasion formed into a historical development of British colonialism in India. Despite India under the British rule, Mahatma Gandhi played an important role in gaining Independence. He not only changed India but also strongly fought for India's independence, using various strategies. The British Empire ruled as long as they could to reform India both politically and socially.
...ure” as “ culture shock is an extreme reaction to an international transition...Culture Shock comes from the natural contradiction between our accustomed patterns of behavior and the psychological conflict of attempting to maintain them in the new cultural environment”. Jahabvala goes through five stages. The first one is surprise where she becomes aware of the differences in the cultures. The second one is stress, where the daily annoyances are becoming ever more difficult resulting in her becoming more withdrawn. The third one is the irritation phase where small objects ex. the Indians view on cows, trigger a strong reaction. The fourth phase is fatigue, where she is exhausted and can't bring herself to talk about India, when people ask her. The last and final stage is culture shock where all the things come into contact with each other causing this cultural shock.